The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-30
RIOT At A BULL FIGHT.
Violence at a MatadOr's Debut
in the City of Mexico.
A Mob, Disappointed in Its Cruel
Sport, Storms the Arena.

The City of Mexico has been the scene OF
terrific riot at the debut Of Luis Mazzantini,
q noted Spanish matador imported from Ha-
vana at a cost of $4,000 His first appear
ance was celebrated as holiday in the Mexi-
can Capital, and for hundred miles around.
A dispatch gives the following account OF
the cruel "sport," and the attendant riot,
created by disappointed spectators:
The rush for seats began hours before the
sport began, and fully 10000 people, circled
by Gordon of Federal troops, occupied the
bull, heavy. dark one, was received with
great cheers. A signal attack by picador,
however, proved the worthlessness Of the
bull, for he was not quick to charge,
and the crowd yelled: ga fuera!'
c'Away with himnl The bull stood still, and
acted entirely OH the defensive, and at last
threw a horse and rider, throwing the horse
The bull jumped the outer barrier, which
circles ring smaller than that of
Puebla, so that the brute could scarcely turn,
and Immediately returned to the arena, where
the planting of the banderilas elected enthu-
SiaSm. MaZZantipi now took the sword and
gave the first thrust 1t went clear to the
hilt. With two and a half feet of steel
in his body the abull rushed around
the arena close to the barrier, and one
of the spectators withdrew the sword, but it
was soon after plunged to the hit again by
Mazzantini. But the bull still gave battle,
and the champion was at last obliged to sever
the spinal cord. which he did by a single
touch behind the horns
The second bull was equally worthless.
The banderillas were planted and Prieto
Diego, in uniform of vermilion red and gold,
advanced with sword and capes-Ths fbr1ists
were given, but the hp!l aid not charge and
cs1 eAe.l1lsl5iS I..5iS Of disgust were given by the
1specta prs The bull would not leave the bar
rier, an died while circling it.
The hNse whose abdomen was pierced en-
tered the ring for third encounter. The lab
domen had been sewed up and enormous
swellings appeared. The crowd yelled with
Indignation but the horse and rider remained:
The horse was attacked by the black and
white bull, which had entered, and at
the second attack the seams were torn
open and the intestines again protrud-
ed. The horses were called by the
judge, the banderillas were planted, and
MaZzantini, amid expressions Of the eXtrem-
est disgust from the crowd. who were dis
satisfied with the inferior quality Of the bull,
thrust the sword deep into the lungs Blood
rushed from the mouth. The bull fell on his
breast, but turned round and round on his
hind legs to meet his adversaries, by whom he
was surrounded, anG at last settled down
and died.
The spectators voiced their, disgust freely,
and it increased as three other bulls were
proved to be poltroons. They Missed the
matador and management, they hurled chairs
at the bull. Luis took one of the hundreds Of
chairs flung into the arena and hit the huh On
the head. Then the crowd jumped into the
ha hn1i itxyitb hair nd
aagstaffs, breaking them into fragments
The bull was killed, and rain Of chairs
succeeded. The crowd in the upper galleries
began to tear the woodwork to pieces and
fling it into the air. and the widest confusion
prevailed. The soldiers with drawn hayonets
were deployed around the amphitheatre,
while the officers rushed to and fro, vainly
trying to suppress the excitement and
quell the disturbance, which had now be-
gallery company of soldiers prom
enaded with drawn bayonets, but there was
no chance to charge on the crowd. Several
arrests were made by the officers, who were
mingling with the crowd and closely watching
the movements Of individuals As quickly as
possible the bayonets cleared the benches, and
then the soldiers were deployed into triangle
in double file inside the entrance
Here and there chairs were flung from the
SdlerleS, not now lnUO Che arena, but among
the soldiers, and officers with swords in their
hands rushed up the stairs to arrest the Of
tenders. The crowd hooted the officers and
demanded the release of the prisoners,
but the latter were borne away, despite
the loudly uttered protests. Detachments
Of cavalry with drawn sabres blocked
the street crossings and the bayonets of the
Infantry glistened in the red light of the char
coal fires kept burning by the Street venders.
The ladies had not yet been able to
escape and were hemmed in by the
crowd. Suddenly there was a movement
from beyond, where the crowd was the thick
est, and men and women were separated by
charge of the mounted troops, to which some
one had given offense The culprit and some
of his companions were struck with sabres
and placed under arrest, and again the soldiers
resumed their positions.
The mob howled and ragged and cries of
denunciaE.on against the matador and the
manager were heard far and near. The SOL
diers charged the crowd gathered in the
streets, and hundreds of heads were slashed
with sabres.' Finally the troops were in sole
possession.
The prices of admission were enormous, So
being the lowest rate for reserved seats. The
receipts were $150.000.